Under the new policy, contracts with elites for the six marathons will state that a race has the right to reclaim appearance fees, prize money, and performance bonuses "if the athlete is found—before, during or after the term of the agreement—to have committed a criminal offence involving drugs, or an anti-doping rule violation, or if for any other reason the athlete's result in the marathon is later nullified by a relevant governing body."

The World Marathon Majors comprises the New York City, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo marathons.

Officials did not immediately respond to questions from Runner's World Newswire whether the "before" and "after" aspects of the clause extend indefinitely, such as whether a runner who gets an appearance fee and prize money at a 2013 race would have to return that money if he or she failed a drug test in 2017.

Women's marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe, long an advocate of stricter anti-doping measures, applauded the new policy.

"This is a step forward in increasing the deterrent and showing athletes and managers that cheating won't be tolerated," Radcliffe said. "Having to pay back all money won while cheating is common sense and a logical element that has been missing for a long time. It is clear that any monies won while cheating are tantamount to fraud and should be returned."